Text extraction on graphs

ABSTRACT

Techniques are described for text extraction on graphs. In one example, techniques include receiving a graphical representation of data, the graphical representation of data being a format other than a spreadsheet or table; and receiving user input selecting a portion of the graphical representation of data; and generating one or more text analytics rules based on the selected portion. The graphical representation may be a pie chart or a radial sunburst diagram.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to data management and text analytics systems.

BACKGROUND

A typical process of information extraction involves loading the dataand then applying rules of extraction by using dictionaries, regularexpressions and proximity of words between them directly against thedata. However, from a data analyst's perspective, this process may provecumbersome for some types of data, for example data represented in agraph or graphical representation of data. Thus, some types of data maybe excluded from text analytics since the format is not compatible withexisting text analytics processes.

SUMMARY

In general, examples disclosed herein are directed to techniques fortext extraction on graphs. In one example, techniques include receivinga graphical representation of data, the graphical representation of databeing a format other than a spreadsheet or table, receiving user inputselecting a portion of the graphical representation of data, andgenerating one or more text analytics rules based on the selectedportion.

In other example, a computer system for includes one or more processors,one or more computer-readable memories, and one or morecomputer-readable, tangible storage devices. Program instructions arestored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for executionby at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of theone or more memories, to perform operations including receiving agraphical representation of data, the graphical representation of databeing a format other than a spreadsheet or table, receiving user inputselecting a portion of the graphical representation of data, andgenerating one or more text analytics rules based on the selectedportion.

In another example, a computer program product includes acomputer-readable storage medium has program code embodied therewith.The program code is executable by a computing device to performoperations including receiving a graphical representation of data, thegraphical representation of data being a format other than a spreadsheetor table, receiving user input selecting a portion of the graphicalrepresentation of data, and generating one or more text analytics rulesbased on the selected portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for text extraction ongraphs.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of text extraction on a radial sunburst chart.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a computing device for text extraction ongraphs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various examples are disclosed herein for text extraction on graphs. Inone embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a method for text extraction ongraphs includes receiving a graphical representation of data (110),receiving user input selecting a portion of the graphical representationof data (120), and generating one or more text analytics rules based onthe selected portion (130.) The graphical representation of data is aformat other than a spreadsheet or table. It can be, for example, a piegraph, or a radial sunburst chart 210, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In one aspect, a system for text extraction on graphs includes thefollowing components:

-   -   (1) Input data to be analyzed, the input data being in the form        of a graph.    -   (2) A graphical user interface that allows portions of the graph        to be selected. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, multiple        rings 220 of a radial sunburst chart 210 are selected.        Alternatively, different portions of the same ring can also be        selected.    -   (3) Text analysis rules and configuration information, such as        dictionaries, which are applied to the different portions of the        graph. The system takes the input from the user selections made        on the graph and uses this input to generate text analysis rules        and dictionary configurations, including mappings between        portions of the graph and certain categories of data, such as        revenue, brand of car etc. The text analysis and dictionary        configurations may be implemented via known techniques.    -   (4) Output of executing text analysis rules with configuration        information on the input data. The output may be a report, for        example, a report of revenue listings for different brands of        cars, where the source data is provided in graphical form (e.g.,        sunburst diagram) and the system generates one dictionary for        revenue and another dictionary for brands of cars.

The visualization can lead to the modification of the rules andconfiguration to provide new output. In the absence of a new rule, adefault rule may count the frequency of words to provide the initialdisplay. A dictionary can be created/modified by visually selectingwords or sets of words in a graph. A number of visual representationscan be chosen from and different graphical representations andselections can be defined upon them as a series of rules and rulemodifications. These rules may include the specification of AND or OR(or XOR) via selecting more than one graphical region, NOT by selectingthe inverse of a region.

For example, in a sunburst diagram, selecting two ring segments in thesame ring represents an OR condition, such as Honda OR GM. In a sunburstdiagram, each ring could represent a different subrule, where the entirediagram represents a compound rule for AND of the two subrules together.For example, (Honda OR GM) AND (Brakes OR Airbag). Other examplesinclude Proximity, Dictionary, and Noun/Verb as example subrules thatcould be leveraged inside such a rule building system.

In the illustrative example of FIG. 3, computing device 80 includescommunications fabric 82, which provides communications betweenprocessor unit 84, memory 86, persistent data storage 88, communicationsunit 90, and input/output (I/O) unit 92. Communications fabric 82 mayinclude a dedicated system bus, a general system bus, multiple busesarranged in hierarchical form, any other type of bus, bus network,switch fabric, or other interconnection technology. Communicationsfabric 82 supports transfer of data, commands, and other informationbetween various subsystems of computing device 80.

Processor unit 84 may be a programmable central processing unit (CPU)configured for executing programmed instructions stored in memory 86. Inanother illustrative example, processor unit 84 may be implemented usingone or more heterogeneous processor systems in which a main processor ispresent with secondary processors on a single chip. In yet anotherillustrative example, processor unit 84 may be a symmetricmulti-processor system containing multiple processors of the same type.Processor unit 84 may be a reduced instruction set computing (RISC)microprocessor such as a PowerPC® processor from IBM® Corporation, anx86 compatible processor such as a Pentium® processor from Intel®Corporation, an Athlon® processor from Advanced Micro Devices®Corporation, or any other suitable processor. In various examples,processor unit 84 may include a multi-core processor, such as a dualcore or quad core processor, for example. Processor unit 84 may includemultiple processing chips on one die, and/or multiple dies on onepackage or substrate, for example. Processor unit 84 may also includeone or more levels of integrated cache memory, for example. In variousexamples, processor unit 84 may comprise one or more CPUs distributedacross one or more locations.

Data storage 96 includes memory 86 and persistent data storage 88, whichare in communication with processor unit 84 through communicationsfabric 82. Memory 86 can include a random access semiconductor memory(RAM) for storing application data, i.e., computer program data, forprocessing. While memory 86 is depicted conceptually as a singlemonolithic entity, in various examples, memory 86 may be arranged in ahierarchy of caches and in other memory devices, in a single physicallocation, or distributed across a plurality of physical systems invarious forms. While memory 86 is depicted physically separated fromprocessor unit 84 and other elements of computing device 80, memory 86may refer equivalently to any intermediate or cache memory at anylocation throughout computing device 80, including cache memoryproximate to or integrated with processor unit 84 or individual cores ofprocessor unit 84.

Persistent data storage 88 may include one or more hard disc drives,solid state drives, flash drives, rewritable optical disc drives,magnetic tape drives, or any combination of these or other data storagemedia. Persistent data storage 88 may store computer-executableinstructions or computer-readable program code for an operating system,application files comprising program code, data structures or datafiles, and any other type of data. These computer-executableinstructions may be loaded from persistent data storage 88 into memory86 to be read and executed by processor unit 84 or other processors.Data storage 96 may also include any other hardware elements capable ofstoring information, such as, for example and without limitation, data,program code in functional form, and/or other suitable information,either on a temporary basis and/or a permanent basis.

Persistent data storage 88 and memory 86 are examples of physical,tangible, non-transitory computer-readable data storage devices. Someexamples may use such a non-transitory medium. Data storage 96 mayinclude any of various forms of volatile memory that may require beingperiodically electrically refreshed to maintain data in memory, whilethose skilled in the art will recognize that this also constitutes anexample of a physical, tangible, non-transitory computer-readable datastorage device. Executable instructions may be stored on anon-transitory medium when program code is loaded, stored, relayed,buffered, or cached on a non-transitory physical medium or device,including if only for only a short duration or only in a volatile memoryformat.

Processor unit 84 can also be suitably programmed to read, load, andexecute computer-executable instructions or computer-readable programcode for a semantic model constructor 22, as described in greater detailabove. This program code may be stored on memory 86, persistent datastorage 88, or elsewhere in computing device 80. This program code mayalso take the form of program code 104 stored on computer-readablemedium 102 comprised in computer program product 100, and may betransferred or communicated, through any of a variety of local or remotemeans, from computer program product 100 to computing device 80 to beenabled to be executed by processor unit 84, as further explained below.

The operating system may provide functions such as device interfacemanagement, memory management, and multiple task management. Theoperating system can be a Unix based operating system such as the AIX®operating system from IBM® Corporation, a non-Unix based operatingsystem such as the Windows® family of operating systems from Microsoft®Corporation, a network operating system such as JavaOS® from Oracle®Corporation, or any other suitable operating system. Processor unit 84can be suitably programmed to read, load, and execute instructions ofthe operating system.

Communications unit 90, in this example, provides for communicationswith other computing or communications systems or devices.Communications unit 90 may provide communications through the use ofphysical and/or wireless communications links. Communications unit 90may include a network interface card for interfacing with a LAN 16, anEthernet adapter, a Token Ring adapter, a modem for connecting to atransmission system such as a telephone line, or any other type ofcommunication interface. Communications unit 90 can be used foroperationally connecting many types of peripheral computing devices tocomputing device 80, such as printers, bus adapters, and othercomputers.

Communications unit 90 may be implemented as an expansion card or bebuilt into a motherboard, for example.

The input/output unit 92 can support devices suited for input and outputof data with other devices that may be connected to computing device 80,such as keyboard, a mouse or other pointer, a touchscreen interface, aninterface for a printer or any other peripheral device, a removablemagnetic or optical disc drive (including CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or Blu-Ray),a universal serial bus (USB) receptacle, or any other type of inputand/or output device. Input/output unit 92 may also include any type ofinterface for video output in any type of video output protocol and anytype of monitor or other video display technology, in various examples.It will be understood that some of these examples may overlap with eachother, or with example components of communications unit 90 or datastorage 96. Input/output unit 92 may also include appropriate devicedrivers for any type of external device, or such device drivers mayreside elsewhere on computing device 80 as appropriate.

Computing device 80 also includes a display adapter 94 in thisillustrative example, which provides one or more connections for one ormore display devices, such as display device 98, which may include anyof a variety of types of display devices. It will be understood thatsome of these examples may overlap with example components ofcommunications unit 90 or input/output unit 92. Input/output unit 92 mayalso include appropriate device drivers for any type of external device,or such device drivers may reside elsewhere on computing device 80 asappropriate. Display adapter 94 may include one or more video cards, oneor more graphics processing units (GPUs), one or more video-capableconnection ports, or any other type of data connector capable ofcommunicating video data, in various examples. Display device 98 may beany kind of video display device, such as a monitor, a television, or aprojector, in various examples.

Input/output unit 92 may include a drive, socket, or outlet forreceiving computer program product 100, which comprises acomputer-readable medium 102 having computer program code 104 storedthereon. For example, computer program product 100 may be a CD-ROM, aDVD-ROM, a Blu-Ray disc, a magnetic disc, a USB stick, a flash drive, oran external hard disc drive, as illustrative examples, or any othersuitable data storage technology.

Computer-readable medium 102 may include any type of optical, magnetic,or other physical medium that physically encodes program code 104 as abinary series of different physical states in each unit of memory that,when read by computing device 80, induces a physical signal that is readby processor 84 that corresponds to the physical states of the basicdata storage elements of storage medium 102, and that inducescorresponding changes in the physical state of processor unit 84. Thatphysical program code signal may be modeled or conceptualized ascomputer-readable instructions at any of various levels of abstraction,such as a high-level programming language, assembly language, or machinelanguage, but ultimately constitutes a series of physical electricaland/or magnetic interactions that physically induce a change in thephysical state of processor unit 84, thereby physically causing orconfiguring processor unit 84 to generate physical outputs thatcorrespond to the computer-executable instructions, in a way that causescomputing device 80 to physically assume new capabilities that it didnot have until its physical state was changed by loading the executableinstructions comprised in program code 104.

In some illustrative examples, program code 104 may be downloaded over anetwork to data storage 96 from another device or computer system foruse within computing device 80. Program code 104 comprisingcomputer-executable instructions may be communicated or transferred tocomputing device 80 from computer-readable medium 102 through ahard-line or wireless communications link to communications unit 90and/or through a connection to input/output unit Computer-readablemedium 102 comprising program code 104 may be located at a separate orremote location from computing device 80, and may be located anywhere,including at any remote geographical location anywhere in the world, andmay relay program code 104 to computing device 80 over any type of oneor more communication links, such as the Internet and/or other packetdata networks. The program code 104 may be transmitted over a wirelessInternet connection, or over a shorter-range direct wireless connectionsuch as wireless LAN, Bluetooth™, Wi-Fi™, or an infrared connection, forexample. Any other wireless or remote communication protocol may also beused in other implementations.

The communications link and/or the connection may include wired and/orwireless connections in various illustrative examples, and program code104 may be transmitted from a source computer-readable medium 102 overnon-tangible media, such as communications links or wirelesstransmissions containing the program code 104. Program code 104 may bemore or less temporarily or durably stored on any number of intermediatetangible, physical computer-readable devices and media, such as anynumber of physical buffers, caches, main memory, or data storagecomponents of servers, gateways, network nodes, mobility managemententities, or other network assets, en route from its original sourcemedium to computing device 80.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product. The computer program product may include a computerreadable storage medium (or media) having computer readable programinstructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of thepresent invention. The computer readable storage medium can be atangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by aninstruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium maybe, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, amagnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagneticstorage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing.

A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readablestorage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, ahard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a staticrandom access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory(CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk,a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structuresin a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitablecombination of the foregoing.

A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to beconstrued as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves orother freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic wavespropagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., lightpulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signalstransmitted through a wire. Computer readable program instructionsdescribed herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processingdevices from a computer readable storage medium or to an externalcomputer or external storage device via a network, for example, theInternet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wirelessnetwork. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, opticaltransmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls,switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter cardor network interface in each computing/processing device receivescomputer readable program instructions from the network and forwards thecomputer readable program instructions for storage in a computerreadable storage medium within the respective computing/processingdevice.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in anycombination of one or more programming languages, including an objectoriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, andconventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The computerreadable program instructions may execute entirely on the user'scomputer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone softwarepackage, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computeror entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario,the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through anytype of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide areanetwork (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer(for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example,programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), orprogrammable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readableprogram instructions by utilizing state information of the computerreadable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry,in order to perform aspects of the present invention. Aspects of thepresent invention are described herein with reference to flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), andcomputer program products according to embodiments of IBM CONFIDENTIALD-2 the invention.

It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrationsand/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computerreadable program instructions. These computer readable programinstructions may be provided to a processor of a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions,which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmabledata processing apparatus, create means for implementing thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be storedin a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, aprogrammable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to functionin a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage mediumhaving instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufactureincluding instructions which implement aspects of the function/actspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. Thecomputer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for text extraction on graphs, themethod comprising: receiving a graphical representation of a pluralityof input data, the graphical representation of the plurality of inputdata being a radial chart comprising a first ring and a second ring;presenting a graphical user interface that allows one or more portionsof the radial chart to be selected; receiving user input selecting aportion of the graphical representation of the plurality of input data;generating one or more text analytics rules based on the selectedportion, wherein the generated one or more text analytics rulescomprises: in response to the received user input selecting a firstportion of the first ring and a second portion of the first ring,generating an OR text analytics rule; and in response to the receiveduser input selecting a first ring portion of the first ring and a secondring portion of the second ring, generating an AND text analytics rule;generating a dictionary that defines correspondences between theselected portions of the graphical representation and categories ofdata; generating a report based on executing the generated one or moretext analytics rules and the generated dictionary on the plurality ofinput data; and outputting the generated report.
 2. A computer systemcomprising: one or more processors, one or more computer-readablememories, and one or more computer-readable, tangible storage devices;program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storagedevices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors viaat least one of the one or more memories to perform operationscomprising: receiving a graphical representation of a plurality of inputdata, the graphical representation of the plurality of input data beinga radial chart comprising a first ring and a second ring; presenting agraphical user interface that allows one or more portions of the radialchart to be selected; receiving user input selecting a portion of thegraphical representation of the plurality of input data; generating oneor more text analytics rules based on the selected portion, wherein thegenerated one or more text analytics rules comprises: in response to thereceived user input selecting a first portion of the first ring and asecond portion of the first ring, generating an OR text analytics rule;and in response to the received user input selecting a first ringportion of the first ring and a second ring portion of the second ring,generating an AND text analytics rule; generating a dictionary thatdefines correspondences between the selected portions of the graphicalrepresentation and categories of data; generating a report based onexecuting the generated one or more text analytics rules and thegenerated dictionary on the plurality of input data; and outputting thegenerated report.
 3. A computer program product comprising anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program codeembodied therewith, the program code executable by a computing device toperform operations comprising: receiving a graphical representation of aplurality of input data, the graphical representation of the pluralityof input data being a radial chart comprising a first ring and a secondring; presenting a graphical user interface that allows one or moreportions of the radial chart to be selected; receiving user inputselecting a portion of the graphical representation of the plurality ofinput data; generating one or more text analytics rules based on theselected portion, wherein the generated one or more text analytics rulescomprises: in response to the received user input selecting a firstportion of the first ring and a second portion of the first ring,generating an OR text analytics rule; and in response to the receiveduser input selecting a first ring portion of the first ring and a secondring portion of the second ring, generating an AND text analytics rule;generating a dictionary that defines correspondences between theselected portions of the graphical representation and categories ofdata; generating a report based on executing the generated one or moretext analytics rules and the generated dictionary on the plurality ofinput data; and outputting the generated report.